I don’t mean looking through the latest issue of fashion magazine. I am asking you when the last time was that you looked to find beauty in the world around you?

Today while walking to work, I spotted pigeons doing their pigeon thing… you know, the way that they peck around and look dumb and don’t get out of the way until it’s almost too late – although on that note I can’t remember seeing a dead pigeon, so they must be the masters of efficient last minute moves.

Anyway something struck me about the contrast of bird against pavement, this little feathery speck of nature within the megapolis of cityscape that suddenly thwacked me with a moment of awesomeness. Ordinary seemed extraordinary. And in that moment, I was uplifted, and starting singing. Strange, but true.

The affect of our perception of beauty on the brain is the upping of serotonin, the feel good hormone. Lord knows (metaphorically speaking for all you atheists) we need lots of feel good hormone in our stressy, plumped up lives that has us soothing ourselves with food cuz it’s the go-to for a quick picker upper.

So when was the last time you looked at what was around you, or at yourself, or at your body, or your life and noticed the beauty?